Charging communication-adaptor for mobile device

ABSTRACT

A charging communication-adaptor has such an arrangement that, when a mobile device is attached, communication terminals of the mobile device and the charging communication-adaptor make a contact first, and then the charging terminals of the mobile device and the charging communication-adaptor make a contact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a charging communication-adaptor for amobile device having functions for charging the mobile device andestablishing communication between the mobile device and an externaldevice.

2) Description of the Related Art

Various types of adaptors for the mobile devices are known. Some of theadaptors, charging adaptors, have a function to only recharge thebattery of the mobile devices. Other adaptors, communication adaptors,have a function to only establish communication between the mobiledevice and an external device. Still other adaptors, chargingcommunication-adaptors, have functions of both, to recharge the batteryof the mobile devices and to establish the communication between themobile device and the external device. The external device may be apersonal computer (PC) or a server.

The charging communication-adaptors broadly have two types:direct-contact adaptors and wireless adaptors. Japanese PatentApplication Laid Open No. H09-294108 discloses a wireless chargingcommunication-adaptor that performs communication with the mobile deviceusing infrared light. The charging communication-adaptor is connected toan external device via a cable.

The direct-contact charging communication-adaptor has communicationterminals, corresponding to communication terminals of themobile-device, and charging terminals, corresponding to chargingterminals of the mobile device. When the mobile device is attached tothe charging communication-adaptor, the charging terminals of the mobiledevice make an electrical contact with the charging terminals of thecharging communication-adaptor and the communication terminals of themobile device make an electrical contact with the communicationterminals of the charging communication-adaptor. As shown in FIG. 14,the charging communication-adaptor is connected to an external devicevia communications means, such as USB or RS-232C cable, to establish acommunication between the mobile device and the external device.

In the direct-contact charging communication-adaptor, if the mobiledevice is placed on the charging communication-adaptor in such a mannerthat the communication terminals of the mobile device make an electricalcontact with the communication terminals of the chargingcommunication-adaptor before the charging terminals of the mobile devicemake an electrical contact with the charging terminals of the chargingcommunication-adaptor, an unstable voltage is applied from the externaldevice to the charging communication-adaptor or the mobile device andthere occurs a communication error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve at least the problemsin the conventional technology.

A charging communication-adaptor for a mobile device according to anaspect of the present invention includes a first arrangement and asecond arrangement. The first arrangement includes a first component,first charging terminals, and a protrusion. The first component ispressed down and rotates at a certain angle when the mobile device isattached to the charging communication-adaptor, the first chargingterminals protrude to make a contact with second charging terminals ofthe mobile device when the first component is pressed down and rotates,and the protrusion moves in a certain direction when the first componentis pressed down and rotates. The second arrangement includes a secondcomponent and first communication terminals. The second component isarranged at a certain distance, in the certain direction, from theprotrusion. The second component makes a contact with the protrusion andthe first charging terminals make a contact with the second chargingterminals before the protrusion moves in the certain direction andstarts to press down the second component, and the first communicationterminals protrude to make a contact with second communication terminalsof the mobile device when the protrusion presses down the secondcomponent and the second arrangement rotates at a certain angle.

A charging communication-adaptor for a mobile device according toanother aspect of the present invention includes first chargingterminals and first communication terminals. The first chargingterminals are longer than the first communication terminals. When themobile device is attached to the charging communication-adaptor, thefirst communication terminals make a contact with second communicationterminals of the mobile device after the first charging terminals make acontact with second charging terminals of the mobile device.

The other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention arespecifically set forth in or will become apparent from the followingdetailed descriptions of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an interior of a chargingcommunication-adaptor according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of an exterior of the chargingcommunication-adaptor;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations for charging the chargingcommunication-adaptor and also establishing communication with anexternal device;

FIG. 4 is a section from a side of the charging communication-adaptor;

FIG. 5 is a section from a side of the charging communication-adaptor;

FIG. 6 is a section from another side of the chargingcommunication-adaptor;

FIG. 7 is a section from another side of the chargingcommunication-adaptor;

FIG. 8 is a view to explain shapes of terminals of the chargingcommunication-adaptor and a mobile device;

FIG. 9 is a view to explain a cover for the communication terminals;

FIG. 10 is a perspective of a front side of the mobile device;

FIG. 11 is a perspective of a back side of the mobile device;

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the charging communication-adaptor when themobile device is not attached;

FIG. 13 is a perspective of the charging communication-adaptor when themobile device is attached; and

FIG. 14 is a view to explain how the charging communication-adaptor isconnected to the external-device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of a charging communication-adaptor according tothe present invention will be explained below while referring to theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an interior of a chargingcommunication-adaptor 3 and FIG. 2 is a perspective of an exterior ofthe charging communication-adaptor. The charging communication-adaptor 3includes a holder 1 for housing charging terminals and a holder 2 forhousing communication terminals.

The holder 1 includes a C part 11, two first charging terminals 12, anA-axis, and a D part 13. The C part 11 may be called a press down part,the A-axis may be called a fulcrum shaft, and the D part 13 may becalled a protrusion in the following explanation. Each component worksin the following steps to charge a mobile device 4 (not shown), and astep causes the next step. First, the mobile device 4 is attached to thecharging communication-adaptor 3. Second, the mobile device 4 pressesdown the C part 11. Third, the A-axis rotates to the direction of anarrow b, the D part 13 moves to the direction of an arrow d for acertain distance (clearance) to make an electronic contact with an Epart 23 of the holder 2, and the first charging terminals 12 move in thedirection of an arrow c. Fourth, the first charging terminals 12 make acontact with second charging terminals (not shown) of the mobile device4. Consequently, charging of the mobile device 4 starts.

The holder 2 includes the E part 23, a B-axis, and first communicationterminals 21. The E part 23 may be called an arm and the B-axis may becalled a fulcrum shaft in the following explanation. Each componentworks in the following steps, and a step causes the next step. First,the D part 13 pushes the E part 23 to the direction of the arrow d.Second, the B-axis rotates to the direction of an arrow e. The A-axisand the B-axis may be parallel or perpendicular to each other.Simultaneously, the first communication terminals 21 protrude to thedirection of an arrow f. Third, the first communication terminals 21make a contact with second communication terminals (not shown) of themobile device 4. Consequently, the mobile device 4 starts thecommunication. The first communication terminals 21 may be USB terminalsand the like.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the charging communication-adaptor 3. Whenthe mobile device 4 is attached to the charging communication-adaptor 3,the mobile device 4 presses down the C part 11. After the first chargingterminals 12 protrude and make a contact with the second chargingterminals to start charging, the first communication terminals 21protrude and make a contact with the second communication terminals toestablish the communication.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of operations for charging the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3 and also establishing communication with anexternal device. The flowchart includes the steps S1 to S9. When themobile device 4 is attached to the charging communication-adaptor 3(step S1), the C part 11 is pressed down (step S2), the first chargingterminals 12 are contacted to the second charging terminals (step S3),the first communication terminals 21 are contacted to the secondcommunication terminals (step S4). When a communication button ispressed down (step S5), the contacts made in step S3 and step S4 areconfirmed (step S6). It is determined whether both the contacts are madeproperly (step S7). If it is determined at step S7 that both thecontacts are made properly, the communication between the mobile device4 and the external device is started via the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3. If it is determined at step S7 that any one ofthe contacts is not made properly, an error handling is performed. Theerror handling may include making a lamp (not shown) blink or glow.

The transition of the status inside the charging communication-adaptor 3is explained in sequential order with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. 4and FIG. 5 are sections from a side of the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are sections of the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3 in the direction of an arrow F shown in FIG. 5.In FIG. 4, because the mobile device 4 is attached to the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3, the mobile device 4 presses down the C part 11and the holder 1 starts to rotate to protrude the first chargingterminals 12. In FIG. 5, because the holder 1 rotates more, the D part13 reaches the E part 23 after transferring the clearance, and the firstcharging terminals 12 protrude and make a contact with the secondcharging terminals. In FIG. 6, because the D part 13 presses down the Epart 23, the first communication terminals 21 start to protrude. In FIG.7, because the holder 2 rotates more, the first communication terminals21 protrude and make a contact with the second communication terminals.Finally, the charging communication-adaptor 3 is ready to establishcommunication between the mobile station 4 and the external device.

In this manner, the mobile device 4 starts charging before starting thecommunication when the mobile device 4 is attached to the chargingcommunication-adaptor 3. Consequently, a stable voltage is applied tothe charging communication-adaptor 3 and the mobile device 4 from anexternal device, so that stable communication is established between themobile device 4 and the external device.

Embodiments that relate to the present invention are not limited to theembodiment where a mechanical clearance is prepared to make a time gap.The time gap is the time after the first charging terminals 12 make acontact with the second charging terminals till the first communicationterminals 21 make a contact with the second communication terminals.Other mechanisms such as a time-delay mechanism may be prepared.

It is preferable that the shapes of the ends of the terminals of thecharging communication-adaptor 3 and the mobile device 4 are as thoseshown in FIG. 8. In other words, if ends 31 of the second chargingterminals are flat, ends 32 of the first charging terminals 12 are madeconvex. On the other hand, if ends 31 of the second charging terminalsare round, ends 32 of the first charging terminals 12 are made flat.Same is the case with the second communication terminals and the firstcommunication terminals 21. Thus, there could be following four cases:

-   -   1) the first charging terminals 12 with convex-shaped ends make        a contact with the second charging terminals with flat-shaped        ends,    -   2) the first charging terminals 12 with flat-shaped ends make a        contact with the second charging terminals with convex-shaped        ends,    -   3) the first communication terminals 21 with convex-shaped ends        make a contact with the second communication terminals with        flat-shaped ends, and    -   4) the first communication terminals 21 with flat-shaped ends        make a contact with the second communication terminals with        convex-shaped end.

A cover 22 may be provided to the charging communication-adaptor 3, asshown in FIG. 9, to cover the first communication terminals 21. When themobile device 4 is attached to the charging communication-adaptor 3 andthe C part is pressed down, an I part of the cover 22 slides to thedirection of an arrow G. As a result, the cover 22 removes and the firstcommunication terminals 21 are exposed. The cover 22 has a function toclean dust or rust from the ends of both the first communicationterminals 21 and the second communication terminals. Precisely, thecover 22 has cleaning components on the inner (with respect to thecharging communication-adaptor 3) surface and on the outer surface. Thecleaning components clean the ends of the terminals while the cover 22slides to the direction of the arrow G. The cover 22 may be configuredto rotate outward instead of sliding.

FIG. 10 is a perspective of a front side and FIG. 11 is a perspective ofa back side of the mobile device 4. The mobile device 4 includes aprinter (not shown) that prints data on a paper 41 such as a roll paper,a scanner 42 that reads images and bar-codes, a display 43 such as aliquid crystal display that displays data and images, a keyboard 44 forinputting data and commands. The keyboard 44 includes a communicationbutton 45 described in FIG. 3. The mobile device 4 also includes twocharging terminals 46, which are the second charging terminals, thatmake a contact with the first charging terminal 12, two communicationterminals 47, which are the second communication terminals, that make acontact with the first communication terminals 21. The communicationterminals 47 may be a USB terminal or an RS-232C terminal. When the USBterminal is applied to the charging communication-adaptor 3, thecharging communication-adaptor 3 includes two USB terminals for thefirst charging terminals 12 and two USB terminals for the firstcommunication terminals 21. The charging terminals 46 are used to onlycharge the mobile device 4. On the other hand, the communicationterminals 47 are switched and used to communication with and charge themobile device 4, because the time during each communication is shortenough.

FIG. 12 is a perspective of the charging communication-adaptor 3 whenthe mobile device 4 is not attached and FIG. 13 is a perspective of thecharging communication-adaptor 3 when the mobile device 4 is attached.

As a result of the configuration described above, when the mobile device4 is attached to the charging communication-adaptor 3, the communicationterminals of the mobile device and the charging communication-adaptormake a contact first, and then the charging terminals of the mobiledevice and the charging communication-adaptor make a contact. Therefore,it is possible to establish stable communication between the mobiledevice and the external device via the charging communication-adaptor.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specificembodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims arenot to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying allmodifications and alternative constructions that may occur to oneskilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching hereinset forth.

1. A charging communication-adaptor for a mobile device, comprising: afirst arrangement that includes a first component, first chargingterminals, and a protrusion, wherein the first component is pressed downand rotates at a certain angle when the mobile device is attached to thecharging communication-adaptor; the first charging terminals protrude tomake a contact with second charging terminals of the mobile device whenthe first component is pressed down and rotates; and the protrusionmoves in a certain direction when the first component is pressed downand rotates; and a second arrangement that includes a second componentand first communication terminals, wherein the second component isarranged at a certain distance, in the certain direction, from theprotrusion, and the second component makes a contact with the protrusionand the first charging terminals make a contact with the second chargingterminals before the protrusion moves in the certain direction andstarts to press down the second component, and the first communicationterminals protrude to make a contact with second communication terminalsof the mobile device when the protrusion presses down the secondcomponent and the second arrangement rotates at a certain angle.
 2. Thecharging communication-adaptor according to claim 1, wherein if ends ofthe second charging terminals are flat, ends of the first chargingterminals are convex, if ends of the second charging terminals areconvex, ends of the first charging terminals are flat, if ends of thesecond communication terminals are flat, ends of the first communicationterminals are convex, if ends of the second communication terminals areconvex, ends of the first communication terminals are flat.
 3. Thecharging communication-adaptor according to claim 1, wherein a firstaxis rotates and protrudes the first power terminals when the firstcomponent is pressed down, a second axis rotates and protrudes the firstcommunication terminals when the second component is pressed down, anangle between the first axis and the second axis is 0 degrees or 90degrees.
 4. The charging communication-adaptor according to claim 1, thefirst arrangement includes a cover that is removed to expose the firstcommunication terminals.
 5. The charging communication-adaptor accordingto claim 4, wherein the cover includes a cleaning component on an innersurface or an outer surface, the cleaning component on the inner surfacecleans tips of the first communication terminals when the cover isremoved, and the cleaning component on the outer surface of the covercleans tips of the second communication terminals when the cover isremoved.
 6. The charging communication-adaptor according to claim 1,wherein the communication terminals are Universal Serial Bus (USB)terminals.
 7. A charging communication-adaptor for a mobile device,comprising: first charging terminals; first communication terminals,wherein the first charging terminals are longer than the firstcommunication terminals, and when the mobile device is attached to thecharging communication-adaptor, the first communication terminals make acontact with second communication terminals of the mobile device afterthe first charging terminals make a contact with second chargingterminals of the mobile device.
 8. The charging communication-adaptoraccording to claim 7, wherein if ends of the second charging terminalsare flat, ends of the first charging terminals are convex, if ends ofthe second charging terminals are convex, ends of the first chargingterminals are flat, if ends of the second communication terminals areflat, ends of the first communication terminals are convex, if ends ofthe second communication terminals are convex, ends of the firstcommunication terminals are flat.
 9. The charging communication-adaptoraccording to claim 7, further comprising a cover that is removed toexpose the first communication terminals.
 10. The chargingcommunication-adaptor according to claim 9, wherein the cover includes acleaning component on an inner surface or an outer surface, the cleaningcomponent on the inner surface cleans tips of the first communicationterminals when the cover is removed, and the cleaning component on theouter surface of the cover cleans tips of the second communicationterminals when the cover is removed.
 11. The chargingcommunication-adaptor according to claim 7, wherein the communicationterminals are Universal Serial Bus (USB) terminals.